GE Improves Grid Reliability with New UL-Certified Smart Meters

GE’s Digital Energy business (NYSE:GE), in collaboration with Underwriters Laboratories (UL), has announced that its commercial and industrial smart meters have achieved a UL voluntary safety certification, making them the first meters of this type in the industry to receive this significant mark. In April 2014, GE announced that its residential smart meters were the first in the industry to achieve the UL safety certification, and today, this certification has been expanded to include GE’s commercial and industrial smart meters.

“At GE, we are committed to helping our utility customers deliver safe and reliable power to their customers by designing and manufacturing meters that meet the industry’s highest standards,” said Edward Myszka, general manager, meters, GE’s Digital Energy business. “This UL certification demonstrates our ongoing commitment to safety and highlights the progress we’re making to ensure our customers are equipped to build modern and efficient grids, while adhering to the highest safety standards.”

Earlier this year, UL published the Standard for Safety for Electric Utility Meters. This safety standard contains requirements for electric shock, fire, mechanical and radio-frequency emissions aspects of all electric utility meters, including smart meters, and is the foundation for both the UL product safety certification service and the product safety testing service. GE’s smart meters meet this rigorous standard.

By meeting the new UL certification for commercial and industrial meters, GE can now provide its customers with an added level of confidence surrounding the quality and functionality of their smart meter installations. Smart meter technology can greatly improve customer service and reliability through features like automatic outage reporting, which speeds restoration of service. These technologies also can empower commercial and industrial consumers by allowing them the opportunity to better manage their energy use.

“GE is the first meter manufacturer to deliver a smart meter that met our UL certification requirements for all categories of smart meters—residential, commercial and industrial,” said Lisa Salley, vice president and GM, energy and power technologies, UL. “Since it is a voluntary standard, the collaboration between GE and UL signals a strong commitment to the safety of smart meters for businesses and industries. Additionally, it raises the bar for the global marketplace.”

GE’s Digital Energy business is a global leader in protection and control, communications, power sensing and power quality solutions. Its products and services increase the reliability of electrical power networks and critical equipment for utility, industrial and large commercial customers. From protecting and optimizing assets such as generators, transmission lines and motors, to delivering analytic tools to help manage the power grid, GE’s Digital Energy business delivers industry-leading technologies to solve the unique challenges of each customer. For more information, visit www.gedigitalenergy.com.

About GE

GE (NYSE:GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.

Follow GE’s Digital Energy business on Twitter @GEModernGrid.

About UL

UL is a premier global independent safety science company that has championed progress for 120 years. Its more than 10,000 professionals are guided by the UL mission to promote safe working and living environments for all people. UL uses research and standards to continually advance and meet ever-evolving safety needs. We partner with businesses, manufacturers, trade associations and international regulatory authorities to bring solutions to a more complex global supply chain. For more information about our certification, testing, inspection, advisory and education services, visit http://www.ul.com/.